Author Up Close: Deb Lacativa—Magic, Mayhem, and Benromach Single Malt
By Grace Wynter | March 4, 2021 |
The artist’s tools: From Deb Lacativa’s studio, where all the magic happens.
My first Author Up Close post for 2021 features someone many of you might already be familiar with. Deb Lacativa is not only an active member of the Writer Unboxed community, she was also the 2016 WU Conference Scholarship recipient and returned to deliver the 2018 keynote speech. Deb also reminded me that she was, in her own words, “the first sacrificial lamb to the ‘All the King’s Slaughter … I mean, All the King’s Editors’ feature on Writer Unboxed.” The story Deb submitted for that series is now complete and will be published in a few weeks.
I not only wanted to interview Deb because she’s a gifted storyteller and creator (and friend), but because from the start, Deb defined success on her own terms. When she realized her genre-bending, 800-page debut novel would likely never get buy-in from a traditional publisher, she decided to take a different route to publication. In this Q&A we learn more about the novel and the choices that led Deb on that journey. Of course, if you know Deb at all, you know her answers are filled with the same mix of magic and mayhem her stories are. And, as an added bonus, at the end of this post, there’s a special treat.
GW: Tell us a little about how your writing journey started and when you went from dreaming about becoming an author to taking actionable steps to becoming one?
DL: I’ve been writing since I figured out that crayons didn’t taste good and had a better purpose. I was surrounded by adults who frequently had their noses buried in newspapers. The headlines seemed designed for a toddler to puzzle out, so I pestered for answers because I wanted in on this grownup magic. “MOBSTER SLAIN” above a lurid black-and-white photo on the front page of the NY POST was the first sentence I ever copied. But, beyond bs-ing all my teachers with style over substance at every opportunity, it wasn’t until 2005 that I started writing for an audience on my blog: The misadventures of a textile artist. I used it to be engaging. Sometimes, downright hilarious.
Then, over the course of sixteen months starting in the summer of 2012, both my parents and my husband, Jim, passed away. By January 2014, I needed to get out of the house and be with people who did not know me. It could have been throwing pots or axes, it didn’t matter just as long as there were no condolences. Meetup offered a writer’s group not far away. “Bring a sample of your writing.” I took my turn and was immediately hooked on getting feedback, good or bad. I’d found my heart and purpose for writing. I never dreamed of becoming a published author. It became an objective. Like learning to read and write, it was a skill set that I wanted to learn.
Romance seemed to be the most popular genre, and my Yankee frugality said that’s where I should put my energy: writing that creates an immediate place for readers to connect emotionally, right through the heart. Then our fearless leader gave us an assignment for Valentine’s Day. Write a romantic scene. I was so in. The scene I came up with was the first-meet setup between the main characters of my book.
GW: Which brings us to Prophets Tango the title of your soon-to-be-released debut. What is it and why was this a story you had to tell?
DL: Prophets Tango is a genre-bending romantic saga with a deep twist of paranormal, a hearty dash of thriller, and the heat index on “incinerate.” A serial in 109 episodes divided into three seasons.
Why? In a word: characters. You have to make them live before throwing them into the fray. My protagonists, Jack and Anna, are damaged goods. These unlikely and inappropriate characters become attracted, in part, due to the influence of an adversarial pair of Spirits assigned to facilitate their red-hot hookup. When I started writing Prophets Tango I only knew one rule about the Romance genre: there had to be a Happily Ever After. Building a bridge between the opening scene and that genre-mandated HEA was my mission. Once you have a few really interesting, complex characters who have unusual objectives, set them at odds and watch the sparks fly. I also wanted danger, intrigue, and excitement along the way. Not just what would happen, but why, and how it mattered to the big picture. That HEA was a big spoiler, but I wanted to make the trip exciting, and it quickly got out of hand. Grace, you were the one who pointed out that I’d written a superhero origin story. Sure. Why not?
GW: You’d absolutely written a story about reluctant superheroes, and I remember thinking that it was just so Deb to have done such a great job writing one without even realizing what she’d done. So, why choose self-publishing over the traditional path?
From the beginning, everyone told me that no publisher would touch an 800-page, genre-bending debut novel. Was there any way I could pare it down? No. I already had. There are another five hundred pages of “extra material” parked in files here and there, all written over the course of five years. The best I could do was shape it as a serial, divided into three seasons, to be read in order.
From what I’ve read and heard about the querying and/or acquiring an agent process of traditional publishing, the common factor was “Hurry up and wait.” Six months or more from the time you submit a query until you even get a response? At my age, I just don’t have that kind of time. Yes, I liked Ike. A bottle of Benromach Single Malt Scotch bottled in the year of my birth will set you back $23,000. My clock is ticking. Loud. The choice for me was easy. If I self-published I would have control of the book and reap the most financial reward if I could market as well as I write. Another mission underway.
GW: What are some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way to publication?
DL: Not nearly enough. I don’t know about everyone else, but survival, physically and emotionally, has taken up a lot of energy in the past year. I should have been educating myself in the intricacies and algorithms of the dreaded Amazon. Instead, I was embroidering wild fancies on vintage tea towels, eating takeout, and rewatching Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and The Killing. I’m tickled that I just figured out how to get the sign-up widget from Mailer Lite embedded and working properly on three different web pages!
Ask for help. There are stupid questions. The ones you were too proud to ask. One thing I can’t stress enough. Find your people. Read for each other. Share honest, useful criticism. Give more than you get. I have a squad of sharp-eyed beta readers that have been worth their weight in gold. Even better if you can find readers who are not writers. If they side gig as copywriters or proofreaders, aren’t you a lucky buck! Spend money where it matters. Professional editing to whatever level you can afford. And go into hock for a great cover designer. I took months to find and engage Bookfly, and I’m thrilled with the results.
GW: What advice would you give writers like yourself who wonder if it’s “too late” for them?
DL: Again, find your people. You are not alone. Writer Unboxed is such a great place to start. Give and get encouragement. So what if you’re masked and six feet apart or via Zoom with no pants?
That stuff you heard about writing what you know? Nonsense. Try taking on something new or you’ll get bored. I have to admit here that the only romance novel I ever read before writing Prophets Tango was a few chapters from Outlander, which also had a fat dose of paranormal. I got roped into reading it aloud to a group of ladies at the nursing home where my mother lived. Talk about an appreciative audience! I’ve since learned that Outlander was Diana Gabaldon’s practice novel. Imagine that.
It’s not too late until they throw dirt on your box, your ashes in the ocean, or set your Viking ship on fire. If you have a story idea that keeps you awake at night, get up and start taking notes. It might just keep your readers up too, but you won’t know unless you try.
GW: I’ve read Prophets Tango, and I can attest to the fact that it will definitely keep readers up.
I’m also delighted you were able to get permission from your designer to give us a sneak peek at the beautiful Prophets Tango cover prior to its official release date. The cover does a wonderful job of showing so much of what this story is about: tension, fantasy, sex, and something magical. So here, without further ado, the Prophets Tango cover.
Deb Lacativa studied commercial art in NYC until she realized that talent without passion wasn’t enough. She left school and worked in domestic engineering for the rich and famous, a little retail, some publishing, and telecommunications. It was her job with AT&T that brought the family from New York to Georgia in 1993. After seventeen years, AT&T kicked her loose and she resumed a career in visual art, but all the while she was reading, writing, and reading about writing—banking stories for someday. Someday is here. Her debut novel, Prophets Tango, will be available this Spring. You can learn more about Deb by visiting her website ProphetsTango.com.
Over to you: Publishing can sometimes feel like a young person’s game. I’ve seen thirtysomethings on Twitter admitting that even they feel “over the hill.” If you’ve ever had similar thoughts, what are you doing to define writing and publishing success on your own terms?
[coffee]
Grace Wynter is an author, editor, and workshop facilitator. She has an MBA from Georgia State University and a Professional Certificate in Editing from the University of Chicago. She has conducted workshops for organizations such as Writer Unboxed, Wake Up and Write!, Sisters in Crime, and the Atlanta Writers Club where she is also a freelance editor for their biannual Atlanta Writers Conference. Her editing clients include traditional publishers such as Penguin Random House, Harper Collins, and Hachette, and an array of indie publishers and self-published authors. Grace is the community architect behind Tessera Creatives, an online directory that connects authors and publishers with skilled, culturally competent freelance creatives who provide services for the publishing industry.
When she’s not alternating between the Marvel and DC universes, Grace resides in Atlanta, Georgia. You can connect with her at GraceWynter.com.
What amazing (as in positive, wonderful) encouragement! I especially appreciate it since I’m currently reinventing myself, writing wise . . . daring to believe a change is for the best.
Lovely, vibrant book cover! I’m going to check out your website/book details.
Thanks and yes! Reinvention is ours with every new day and blank page. The best magic trick.
So proud of you and I know Jimmy is too! Can’t wait to read Prophets Tango!!
Deb much success is heading your way.
Your talent was obvious in High School.
Congratulations
What a delightful interview!! Good luck with the book, Deborah. this sounds like one for me!
Thank you, Susan.
If anyone ever asks me for another interview I’m just going to link them here.
Grace and Deb, wonderful interview. Deb’s love for her story and the many steps to publishing is infectious. Congratulations to Deb for sticking to her vision. The cover is gorgeous!
Well, death does motivate me, even when I was a child. It’s why I kissed my mother and picked flowers for her. We’re all going to die–it’s a 100% certainty. So I try to live with no regrets. And this writing life is a gift.
I’ve had dozens of books published in the trade world but I self-published a novel, BOUND, because I felt I no longer had time to lose (I’m in my 50s). I had wonderful contacts from the trade world who helped with editing, cover, etc. I still have to learn marketing and laughed over Deb’s joy getting the mail button to work. That will be me this year. But the stories, they keep coming. So lots to juggle. But how blessed we are to do what we love!
Oh, Vijaya, what a lovely comment. You’re an inspiration, as well.
Thank you, Mike.
Thank you, Vijaya. Blessed we are. Tinkering that code into another template is trixie. When the time comes holler if you need help. Who knew learning HTML in the stone Age would prove useful?
I never did learn html. Maybe that’s why I’ve been procrastinating. But I will remember to ask for help when the time comes. Thank you.
Grace and Deb—two of my favorite people together on the site! Wonderful interview, Grace, and Deb, you always amaze me. Good luck on ‘Prophets Tango’! The cover is as beautiful as the tapestry you sold at the WU auction.
Thanks, Mike.
Wait until you see her in purple and blue!
Beautiful cover!! And Deb and Grace, you’re two of my favorite people!
[Writing this as I’m reinventing myself as well.]
Thank you, Mary. That courtroom scene you read for me in Salem? Things went seriously sideways quickly.
What’s next for you?
Oh, yes, this was so inspiring. Thank you! I know that clock-ticking feeling. I waited into my 40s, then life was flipped on its head. I regrouped, but lost most of my 50s to illness and incompetent doctors. Wait? I think not. Through it all, I built a world, made maps, and learned the craft. Once healthy, I redefined prolific. This interview was as rewarding for me as the sun streaming through my window this morning.
Thanks, Christina. Happy to serve. Map making excites me. I’ve done a couple for the book in the wings but I keep rearranging things. Making it bigger.
Huzzah! Congratulations, Deb! You’re such an inspiration. Have been since that first short I read of yours, for the WU scholarship contest.
Grace, having a friend point out something like “It’s a superhero origin story,” is one of those immense gifts that this community tends to give, again and again. Kudos to you both, for so beautifully sharing the storytelling journey.
I missed liking Ike, but one of my earliest memories is of my parents discussing Kennedy’s assassination in hushed tones. A friend turning 50 recently had me recalling my 50th birthday. I made a silent vow that it would be the year I found my way to being published. I turn 60 this summer. And, damn, that decade seems to have passed like “…a hurtlin’ fevered train.” (With thanks to Mike Scott and the Waterboys.)
Time only grows fleeter. Thanks for the reminder to stake and claim my moments.
Thank you for the kind words, Vaughn.
It is like a freight train. Three engines and 140 graffiti festooned cars on a downhill grade. The CSW 4:30 is my morning alarm. Time to sit up and scribble. I have a reader for you.
I’m on deadline today (YIKES!), so I’ll reply individually as soon as I get some daylight, but I was delighted to interview Deb and give her journey and story the love and attention it deserves.
Your comments remind me why Writer Unboxed is the *best* online community there is! ❤️
That cover is beautiful!
I also write Romance. I came to publishing with a similar mindset as Deb. It was hard to imagine waiting years before publication. So, I self-pub’d two novels, thinking I’ll try trad after I have 2 or 3 out in the world. Well, I learned a lesson. Really, if you are going to do it right and set up all the ducks in a row – leave time for feedback, editing, formatting, blurbs, reviews, marketing, etc. – then publishing a book does take a year or two. I am not looking forward to learning to pitch and query, but I might swallow that bullet for my WIP. I guess I defined success for the first two novels as getting the story finished and available asap. Now I’m redefining success as getting my finished story out to as many eyes as possible. It would be nice to spend less time managing every detail of publishing. Is it nice enough to sacrifice time and angst over learning pitch and query? I don’t know.
Thank you, Ada. It’s the Fun genre, right?
What a fantastic article! I’m proud to call Deb a critique partner and a friend. And I can attest to how gripping Prophet’s Tango is– some of the scenes will never leave you. I can’t wait for the world to see what wonderful things happen when a someone with beautiful mind carves her very own path.
I may owe you a few visits with the therapist.
Thanks for your ongoing encouragement and support. Looking forward to some lawbreaking at EJs with you and Grace.
Thank you Deb for sharing your journey. I am in awe of your bold choice to publish your thick debut novel. You have me wishing I had the guts to see if my first novel, a thick, spine-busting tome, might have fared better in a different venue than traditional publishing, but the CPs I had convinced me otherwise.
My first novel did help me get the experience I needed to write other stories. I now look back on it with nostalgia and only a pinch of regret.
Best of luck with your debut. I will be ordering a copy for myself… especially after seeing that gorgeous cover. (Definitely judging it by it’s exterior!)
Thanks, Amelia. I promise the pages inside that cover won’t disappoint.
Great interview! I am so so impressed by Deb’s storytelling ability and her flair with words. That voice! I’ve read great swaths of this romance already — buckle up! — and can’t wait to read it start to finish. Having swapped chapters with Deb over the last eighteen months means I can attest to the fact that she is as good a reader as she is writer. Congrats to both Grace and Deb for getting this work out into the world.
Dee, this would have been much harder without your generous help and honest support.
Thank you, my friend.
Grace & WU, I should have been first in line to comment with my deep gratitude for exposing me here, but I was too busy running around in circles while breathing into a paper bag, guts aflitter.
Step 2. back to work.
Deb, you have the festive voice of a wry old soul (and please don’t be miffed by the “old”—Ike could have come to my birthday party shortly after taking office), and it’s a delight to behold.
Congratulations on the book, and perhaps the 500 extra pages can be the heart of the sequel. You are on your way, with sleigh bells.
Grace, thanks for setting this up; you have good taste in friends.
As for that Benromach Single Malt from your debut year–forget that. Just buy a bottle of the 10-year-old for fifty bucks, and drink two glasses. You’ll forget all about the age statement.
Thank you, Tom. I’m never miffed by “old” considering the alternative. Yes, all those pages are waiting in the wings keeping me awake at night.
I’m actually a Bubbly fan, but champagne won’t wait like whiskey.
Loved this interview, Grace.
Congrats on your release, Deb. Awesome title, intriguing concept, and beautiful cover.
Prophets Tango is now on my must-read list.
Thanks, Bernadette.
Readers! I cherish each one of you.
What a pleasure it is to see you here today, Deb! What a rich story you’ve shared, too–the story of perseverance we knew and then some. I’m beyond excited to see how your series finds its readers; that cover is a siren call, for certain.
Grace, thank you for bringing this inspiring interview with Deb to WU today!
Thanks, Therese. So much of this possible because of you and the WU community. My first “creds”!
Keep doing what you do and let me know if you need any help.
Jeez, Deb…..it’s. FOR REAL!!!!!!!!
SO MUCH Love to you
Thanks for everything, Therese. That siren call cover? I have Grace to thank for warning me in ALL CAPS to NOT try to design my own cover. She knows about me and the crayons. And I have Elizabeth Bell to thank for tipping me off to Bookfly Designs.
Chicka, a landing page to find your book?
https://www.prophetstango.com/
thanks!
Signed up!
Sounds like a great book for some summer reading. I’m looking forward to digging in to it.
Was so excited to see your work is finally coming to print for the world to access! So very proud of you always for your art and persistence, and have always enjoyed your storytelling and humor. Inside I’m jumping up and down. Outside, at least I am smiling! Didn’t want to disturb the cats. Congratulations on your success and perseverance!
Mary,
Much of the early draft came out of the ether while I was at ACA in 2015 and again in 2018. What a wonderful place and time you made for us to conjure our art. Thank you for everything.
You surely are deft and imaginative and expressive in this interview. You’ve expanded my view, and caused me to exercise my mind. I wish you success in publishing your novel.